MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Comparison of Ergosterol and Vitamin D2 in Mushrooms Agaricus bisporus and Cordyceps militaris Using Ultraviolet Irradiation Directly on Dry Powder or in Ethanol Suspension

Summary

This study shows that exposing mushroom powder suspended in ethanol to ultraviolet light effectively converts ergosterol (a natural compound in mushrooms) into vitamin D2, which is essential for bone health and immunity. The optimal treatment involves UV-C light exposure for 120 minutes at a specific distance, producing about 15 times more vitamin D2 than direct irradiation of dry mushroom powder. After removing the ethanol, these treated mushrooms could serve as a practical natural source of vitamin D for people with deficiency.

Background

Vitamin D deficiency is a severe worldwide health issue affecting skeletal health and immune function. Edible mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamin D2 and have gained popularity as nutritional foods. Mushrooms are rich in ergosterol, a precursor of vitamin D2 that can be converted through ultraviolet irradiation.

Objective

This study investigated the conversion efficiency of ergosterol to vitamin D2 in Agaricus bisporus and Cordyceps militaris mushrooms under various UV irradiation conditions. The research optimized parameters including material form, exposure time, wavelength type, wavelength combinations, and wavelength sequences.

Results

Under optimal conditions (dry powder in ethanol suspension with UV-C at 40 cm for 120 min), vitamin D2 increased from undetectable to 1104 μg/g in A. bisporus and 877 μg/g in C. militaris. UV-C irradiation proved more effective than UV-A or UV-B, with vitamin D2 increase being time- or dose-dependent. Ethanol suspension treatment yielded approximately 15-fold higher vitamin D2 concentrations compared to direct dry powder irradiation.

Conclusion

UV irradiation in ethanol suspension significantly increases vitamin D2 content more effectively than direct dry powder irradiation. UV-C exposure at 40 cm distance for 120 minutes produces optimal results for both mushroom species. This approach enhances the nutritional value of edible mushrooms as natural vitamin D sources for consumers after complete ethanol removal.
  • Published in:ACS Omega,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1021/acsomega.1c03561, PMID: 34778622
Scroll to Top